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76ers Fall To Celtics 102-92 In Home Opener

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 21 points, Al Horford had 15 and the Boston Celtics won for the first time since losing Gordon Hayward, 102-92 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night.

The Celtics lost their first two games after Hayward went down in the opener with a mangled ankle that may cost him the season. Horford and Irving took over down the stretch to quiet a raucous 76ers’ crowd in the home opener.

Jayson Tatum scored 15 points and had Terry Rozier III had 14 to keep the Celtics afloat with a makeshift lineup. Boston snapped a tie game with an 11-4 run late in the fourth that steadied a franchise still reeling from Hayward’s injury.

Joel Embiid knows the feeling of missing an entire season. The Sixers center missed his first two NBA seasons with foot injuries and was limited to 31 games last year. Healthy and ready to play, Embiid had one of his worst games as a pro, with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. He missed all six 3s in 28 minutes. J.J. Redick led the Sixers with 19 points.

Moments after he checked in late in the third, Embiid drove past Horford for his first basket of the game and a 65-56 lead. Embiid missed his first eight shots — he spent more time exhorting the fans to chant “Trust the Process,” — before he gave the fans a real reason to cheer.

Already playing short-handed, the Celtics wasted points with a 15-of-25 effort from the line through the third quarter. Aaron Baynes slipped in for a tip-in at the horn when Embiid failed to box out that cut Philly’s lead to 72-69.

Years of some of the worst basketball in NBA history have at last yielded a Game 7 enthusiasm for the Sixers. The Wells Fargo Center was sold out and fans tailgated in the parking lot hours before tipoff, giving it a Philadelphia Eagles feel. A few Eagles even showed up to ring the ceremonial Liberty Bell during pregame intros and fans whipped their giveaway T-shirts into makeshift rally towels as the arena rocked much like it did in the Allen Iverson era.

“This is gonna be fun tonight, but on behalf of the whole organization, my teammates and myself, we just want to thank you for all the support,” Embiid told the crowd. “I mean, it’s gonna be a great season, so trust the process!”

Embiid, still looking to get his legs after seven months of inactivity, lumbered in an 0 for 5 first half. The 2017 No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz — with a hitch in his free-throw shooting — earned a rousing ovation simply for making shots from the line. Redick kept the Sixers in the game with three 3s that offered a brief glimpse why the Sixers gave him a $23 million contract.

Embiid’s final shot of the half was a wild airball that was snared by Dario Saric and put back for the bucket and a 50-46 lead at halftime.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Coach Brad Stevens said Hayward was released from the hospital. Hayward suffered a broken left tibia and dislocated ankle on opening night in Cleveland. … G Marcus Smart sat out with an ankle injury. Baynes got the start.

76ers: Embiid said he has not been cleared to play back-to-back games and does not expect to be in the lineup Saturday at Toronto. “I just want to feel like an NBA player,” Embiid said. “I feel like I’m not an NBA player because I can’t play back-to-back.”

A LIST

Actor Samuel L. Jackson and director M. Night Shyamalan were at the game. Rapper Meek Mill also was at the game.